Gripper shuttle



Jan. 15, 1957 N. PETERSON 2,777,471

GRIPPER SHUTTLE Filed Aug. 3, 1953 I INVENTOR c 25 GEORGE N. PETERSON 011m. WNW

United States Patent GRIPPER SHUTTLE George N. Peterson, Grafton, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 371,913

12 Claims. (Cl. 139125) This invention relates to improvements in gripper shuttles of a type adapted more particularly for use in looms operating with a stationary weft supply and it is the general object of the invention to provide a simplified preferably one piece shuttle of the gripper type.

Gripper shuttles are generally made with at least two parts one of which moves with respect to the other to grip the thread drawn from a stationary weft supply. The point of attachment of the two parts to each other represents a zone of weakness at which breakage frequently occurs. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a shuttle made in one piece with the gripping jaws integral with the remaining parts of the shuttle.

It is customary to make the gripper shuttles with an outside casing which incloses the gripping jaws, but the casing is made very thin to make room for the movable jaws and as a result is subject to breakage. Also, the casing usually has sides which are engaged by the walls of a shuttle box when the shuttle is checked at the end of its flight. It is another object of the invention to make a one piece shuttle in which the thread gripping jaws are on arms which form part at least of the outside surfaces of the shuttle which engage the walls of the shuttle box. By this construction the arms can be made of substantial size and the casing eliminated.

In gripper shuttles of the general type set forth herein the thread extends from the end of the shuttle and it is necessary to apply the picking force to the shuttle at a point spaced from the thread, either above or below the thread, or at one side of it. Such shuttles are ordinarily made non-symmetrical and in such manner that the picking force can beapplied to a single small area at one end of the shuttle. When this area becomes worn the shuttle must be discarded. It is another important object of the present invention to make a gripper shuttle which shall be symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse axes and have thrust areas for cooperation with the picking mechanism, these areas being located at each end of the shuttle and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the shuttle so that the latter can either be inverted to present a different area at the same end to the picking mechanism or turned end for end around a transverse axis so that the areas at the opposite end of the shuttle can engage the picker mechanism. The shuttle therefore has four thrust areas each capable of cooperation with the picking mechanism.

Looms of the type in which gripper shuttles are employed usually have a thread presenter to place the thread drawn from a stationary package in gripping position with respect to the jaws of the shuttle. In order that the shuttle may be made with the aforesaid thrust areas so that it can be turned around either the longitudinal or the transverse axis it is a further object of the invention to locate the jaws in a central position transversely of the shuttle so that the thread presenter can place the thread between the jaws when the latter are spread,

whether the shuttle has been inverted or turned end for end.

2,777,471 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 "ice In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the shuttleforming the subject matter of the present invention located with associated mechanism at the left end of a loom,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the shuttle shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Figs. 4, and 6 are enlarged vertical sections on lines 44, 55 and 6-6, respectively, Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale of the shuttle box shown in Fig. l, r

Fig. 8 is a detailed vertical section transverse of the shuttle and shuttle box taken on line 8-8, Fig. 7,

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic plan and front views respectively of the shuttle indicating its axes, and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic end View of the shuttle showing a variation in the manner in which picking force may be applied to it.

Referring to Fig. 1, the loom frame 1 includes a breast beam 2 over which the cloth 3 passes. The loom is provided with harness frames for producing sheds in the warp W, two of these harness frames being shown at 4. The loom has a reed S and also shuttle guides G which will ordinarily be made to move into the warp shed to guide the shuttle in its flight and then move out of the shed to permit beat-up by the reed.

The loom includes a shuttle box designated generally at B having a stationary rear wall 7 and a movable front wall 8, similar to the ordinary binder, pivoted on a stud 9 fixed with respect to the shuttle box. A compression spring 10 interposed between a part 11 of the shuttle box and the wall 8 urges the latter rearwardly toward the stationary wall 7. A stop screw 12 has the rear end thereof tapped into the wall 8- and has the forward end thereof passing through a stop guide 13 on the shuttle box. Stop means 14 on the screw engage the guide 13 to limit rear- I ward movement of the wall 8 under the action of spring 18. The screw 12 can move forwardly through the guide 13 to permit movement of the pivoted wall 8 in a forward direction. The wall 8 may be provided with a friction yieldable facing 15 which may be curved forwardly as at 16 to facilitate entry of the shuttle S into the shuttle box between the back and front walls.

A stationary weft package P supplies the filling thread F for attachment to the shuttle S. As shown in Fig. 1 there is diagrammatically indicated a presenter 17 which may be similar as to the usual form to present the filling thread P to the shuttle. A picking actuator 18 shown more clearly in Fig. 7 is provided for end thrust against the shuttle to propel the latter through the guides G when the latter are in the warp shed.

The matter thus far described is for illustrative purposes to show one arrangement in which the shuttle forming the subject matter of the present invention may be used, but the invention is not necessarily limited in its use to such parts of the loom as have already been described.

The shuttle S is preferably made of a single piece of resilient or spring metal such as steel and comprises a central cross bar 24 extending from the front side 21 of the shuttle across the latter to its rear side 22. As shown in Fig. 2 front and rear resilient arms 23 and 24, respectively, extend from the right hand side of the cross bar and are formed, respectively, with thread gripping jaws 25 and 2 5. Each jaw is formed with a thrust area, these areas being shown at 27 and 28 for the jaws 25 and 26, respectively.

The left hand end of the shuttle is similar to its right 3 hand end and has front and back arms 30 and 31 extending from the left hand side of the cross bar 20. These arms are formed respectively with jaws 32 and 33 which have thrust areas 34 and 35, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of a shuttle indicating its longitudinal axis (1-11 and its transverse axis b-b. Fig. 10 shows the vertical axis cc. The axes aa and bb are mutually perpendicular to each other and the two pairs of arms 23-24 and 30-31 are sym metrical about the transverse axis bb. The two pairs of jaws 25-26 and 32-33 are also symmetrically placed about and at equal distances from the transverse axis b--b.

The shuttle is also symmetrical about its longitudinal axis a-a, the jaws of each pair being normally in engagement with each other along this longitudinal axis. The arms 23 and provide a couple on the front side of the longitudinal axis, while the arms 24 and 31 form another couple on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis. These couples are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis a-a. The arms of each couple are preferably aligned with each other as shown in Fig. 2. The thrust areas 27, 23, 34 and 35 are transverse of the shuttle and some part at least of each thrust area preferably aligns lengthwise of the shuttle with its corresponding resilient arm, preferably that part of the thrust area which engages the picking actuator 18.

The front and back vertical walls 40 and 41, respec tively, of the transverse bar 20 are aligned with and form part of the previously mentioned front and back sides 21 and 22 of the shuttle.

The arms 23 and 24 are spaced to define a lengthwise slot 45, and arms 30 and 31 are similarly spaced to define another lengthwise slot 46. These slots are for the purpose of receiving a spreader 47 which can first be moved down into a slot and then turned to spread the jaws of the arms forming the slot as shown for instance at the left hand side of Fig. 7. Each pair of jaws is separable to receive the filling thread F from the presenter 17. The latter will ordinarily present the thread at a point midway between the front and back walls of the shuttle box or along the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. The arms 23, 24, 30 and 31 have substantially vertical inside surfaces 50 to cooperate with the spreader 47 as shown in Fig. 8.

When the spreader 47 turns on its axi as indicated in Fig. 7 it separates the jaws by a small space 48 to receive the filling thread and at this time there may be a slight motion of the front wall 8 of the shuttle box or at least some part of that wall to accommodate the temporary spreading of the resilient arms and jaws. As shown in Fig. 7 this accommodation is represented by a slight reduction in the thickness of the facing 16 which may include suitable material for the purpose, such as leather or rubber. After the thread has been put into the space 48 the spreader will have a reverse turn and then move upwardly from the slot 46. The front wall 8 will then be in its normal condition preparatory to picking of the shuttle by the picker 18.

As shown in Fig. l the picking mechanism is indicated in position to engage thrust area 34, but if this area should become Worn the shuttle can be inverted around the longitudinal axis aa to present thrust area 35 to the picker 18. If the latter should then become worn the shuttle can be turned end for end around the transverse axis b-i) to present thrust area 28, and a second inversion around the longitudinal axis will then present thrust area 27 to the picker 13. The shuttle therefore has four areas which can be presentedto the picking actuator.

The picker need not necessarily be as shown at 18 in order to take advantage of the several thrust areas on the shuttle. Fig. 11 shows the left hand end of the shuttle and a different form of picker indicated at 60. In Fig. 11 the filling thread F is shown in the approximate position it is likely to assume, and the horizontal line dd divides the end of the shuttle into upper and lower zones 61 and 62, respectively. The picker 60 engages the lower zone 62, and when the latter becomes worn the shuttle can be inverted to present zone 61 to the picker. The shuttle can then be turned end for end and the upper and lower zones at the other end of the shuttle (not shown but similar to zones 61 and 62) be used.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth a simple gripper shuttle made preferably in one piece of spring material such as steel and is symmetrical about its longitudinal and transverse axes :1a and b-l;, respectively. The two pairs of jaws are symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis as are also the two pairs of arms, and the couples of arms are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. The jaws of each pair normally engage each other preferably along the longitudinal axis but can be separated to receive a weft thread. The resilient arms and the front and back vertical walls 4-0 and 41 of the transverse bar 29 form the front and back sides 21 and 22 of the shuttle which engage respectively the front and back walls 8 and 7 of the shuttle box, this feature of the invention permitting the elimination of the casing heretofore used to surround the gripping jaws. This feature of having the jaws form part at least of the outside or exterior surfaces of the shuttle to engage the wall of the shuttle box is not necessarily associated with the symmetry of the shuttle already described. The opposite jaws of each pair, such for instance as jaws 25 and 26, will beheld against each other due to the resilience of their arms 23 and 24. Also, each jaw has a thrust or pressure area part at least of which is preferably aligned lengthwise of the shuttle with the associated resilient arm to be able to take the thrust of the picker 18 or 60 without subjecting the jaw or jaws to undue bending strains. Each jaw is thus seen to combine the function of gripping a thread and also receiving the force exerted by the picker means. The shuttle is also invertible around its longitudinal axis and reversible end for end around its transverse axis so that any one of the four thrust areas or zones can be placed in position to engage the picker.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the some is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a one piece gripper shuttle to engage substantially parallel checking surfaces of a shuttle box, the shuttle having longitudinal and transverse axes at right angles to each other, two pairs of resilient thread gripping jaws forming parallel parts of the exterior surfaces of the shuttle to engage said checking surfaces of the shuttle box, one pair at each end of the shuttle, equidistant from said transverse axis and the jaws of each pair normally engaging each other along said longitudinal axis.

2. The shuttle set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of jaws at each end of the shuttle are formed with two thrust areas on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.

3. The shuttle set forth in claim 1 wherein the jaws are on arms arranged in couples substantially parallel to and symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis and the shuttle has a transverse bar between the pairs of jaws integral with said arms and said arms and bar form exterior lengthwise substantially parallel surfaces on opposite sides of the shuttle.

4. A gripper shuttle made of a single piece of spring steel symmetrical about mutually perpendicular central longitudinal and transverse axes and having a pair of thread gripping resilient jaws at each end thereof each jaw having, at the end thereof a picking thrust area, the jaws of each pair being on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and the pairs being equidistant from said trans verse axis so that the shuttle and said thrust areas will have the same aspect whether inverted around the longitudinal axis or turned end for end about the transverse axis.

5. In an elongated gripper shuttle for end engagement by a picker at one side of the central longitudinal axis of the shuttle, the latter being symmetrical about said central longitudinal axis and also about a transverse axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis, a pair of thread gripping resilient jaws at each end of the shuttle, the jaws of each pair being on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and the pairs being equidistant from said transverse axis, each jaw having a thrust area for engagement with the picker and the shuttle being invertible around the longitudinal axis or turnable end for end about the transverse axis to present any one of the thrust areas in position for engagement with the picker.

6. In a gripper shuttle to be picked from a shuttle box having spaced walls, the shuttle having longitudinal and transverse axes at right angles to each other, a couple of aligned resilient thread gripping arms on each side of said longitudinal axis, said couples being substantially parallel to and symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, and a cross bar integral with said arms symmetrical with respect to said transverse axis, each couple and the adjacent part of said cross bar forming an exterior side of the shuttle for engagement with a shuttle box wall.

7. In a gripper shuttle to be picked from a shuttle box having spaced walls, a couple of aligned resilient thread gripping arms on each side of the shuttle, the arms of each couple being spaced transversely of the shuttle from the arms of the other couple, and a transverse bar extending across the shuttle connected to all of the arms intermediate the arms of each couple, said arms and bar forming exterior surfaces of the shuttle to engage said Walls.

8. In a one-piece gripper shuttle to engage shuttle checking surfaces of a shuttle box of a loom having shuttle picking means, a transverse bar extending across the width of the shuttle, two spaced resilient substantially parallel arms formed integrally with and extending away from one side of the bar and having at the ends thereof thread gripping jaws normally engaging each other, said bar and each arm presenting an exterior continuous uninterrupted surface defining a lengthwise substantially straight side of the shuttle for engagement with a surface of the shuttle box and thrust areas on the ends of said jaws to receive the picking force of said picking means.

9. In a metallic gripper shuttle for a loom provided with picking means, a transverse bar forming part of the shuttle, a pair of resilient substantially parallel arms spaced transversely of the shuttle extending from one side of the bar lengthwise of the shuttle, a thread gripping jaw on the end of each arm remote from the bar, the jaws being opposed to and normally engaging each other due to the resilience of said arms, and a flat thrust area transverse of the shuttle at the end of the latter on at least one of said jaws for direct engagement with the picking means, part at least of the thrust area being aligned lengthwise of the shuttle with the associated arm.

10. In an elongated metallic gripper shuttle for a loom provided with picking means, a transverse bar forming part of the shuttle, a pair of resilient substantially parallel arms spaced transversely of the shuttle extending from one side of the bar lengthwise of the shuttle, a thread gripping jaw on the end of each arm remote from the bar, the jaws being opposed to and normally engaging each other along the longitudinal axis of the shuttle due to the resilience of said arms, said jaws being integral with and equidistant from said bar, and a flat thrust area transverse of the shuttle at the end of the latter on each jaw, the shuttle being invertible about said longitudinal axis to present each of said thrust areas for engagement with the picking means, part at least of each thrust area being aligned lengthwise of the shuttle with the associated arm.

11. In a gripper shuttle for a loom operating with a stationary filling thread supply and having a picking means for the shuttle, a pair of combined filling thread gripping and picker means engaging jaws for one end of the shuttle, a resilient arm supporting each jaw and extending along the shuttle in the direction in which the picking means propels the shuttle, said arms normally holding the jaws toward each other to grip a filling thread, and a pressure surface on each jaw transverse of said direction at said end of the shuttle for direct engagement with the picking means, a part of each of said pressure surfaces being aligned lengthwise of the shuttle with the associated arm, whereby the force of the picking means exerted on a pressure surface will be transmitted to the shuttle through the associated arm.

12. In a gripper shuttle for a loom operating with a stationary filling thread supply and having a picking means for the shuttle, a pair of filling thread gripping and picker means engaging jaws for one end of the shuttle, a resilient arm supporting each jaw and extending along the shuttle in the direction in which the picking means propels the shuttle, said arms due to their resilience normally holding the jaws toward each other to grip a filling thread, and a pressure surface on each jaw at said end of the shuttle for direct engagement with the picking means, whereby each jaw acts as a combined thread gripper and a force receiver from the picking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,095 Rourke Oct. 9, 1934 2,072,160 Dewas Mar. 2, 1937 2,163,760 Moessinger June 27, 1939 2,493,515 Werner et al Jan. 3, 1950 

